Bullet orienting shaker



Dgc. 24, 1946. w. D. HUDDLESON EIAL 2,413,047 Q BULLET ORIEN'I'ING SHAKER I 1 Filed May 16, 1944 47 mmvroxs. WAL 7'67? 0. fluaawson/ BY 77/500025 J. HO/M/V AGENT Patented Dec. 24, 1946 UNITED STATES P 2,413,047 BULLET ORIENTING SHAKER Application May 16, 1944, Serial No. 535,866

.6 Claims.

The present invention relates, in general, to a device for distributing and orienting articles, and, more especially, to an improved shaker for automatically loading bullets nose end down into the apertures of a bullet supporting block.

In the manufacture of small arms ammunition and in particular .30 and .50 caliber cartridges, the various components of the cartridge are made up separately and then assembled. In assembling the bullets into the open mouths of the charged cases, the bullets are first loaded nose end down into the apertures of suitable supporting blocks. Transfer plates are then placed on top of the supporting blocks and the whole assembly inverted thereby dropping the bullets heel end first into the apertures of the transfer plates. The latter are subsequently used to release the bullets into the open mouths of the charged cases in a bullet setting machine.

Heretofore, the bullets have been loaded into a single supporting block by a process requiring the continuous supervision of at least two oper ators whose duties include inspection and manual orientation of the bullets into the apertures of the block. Needless to say, this method is inherently slow and requires a relatively large number of operators in order to supply a sulficient number of filled blocks to keep the bullet setting machine in continuous operation.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved device for automatically arranging articles of substantially the same length and having one rounded end so that the round ends of all the articles point in the same direction. A further object is to provide an improved bullet distributing and orienting device adapted to automatically deliver bullets nose end down into the apertures of a bullet supporting block. A further object is to provide a bullet orienting shaker which requires substantially no manual orientation of the bullets. thereby greatly reducing the number of operators required to supply filled blocks to bullet setting machines.

These and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be set forth inmore detail in the following description. For the purpose of illustration, the invention will be described with respect to an embodiment used in orienting and distributing bullets, but it will be understood thattheinvention is not limited to the embodiment shov but includes all modifications thereofwithin the scope of the appended claims. Moreover, the device may be successfully used for orienting other cylindrical objects which South Lebanon,

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supported on the inclined surface of an agitating platform.

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the shaker frame shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the apertured supporting. block and the gauge plate of the shaker frame mounted thereover.

Referring to the drawing, the improved bullet orienting shaker comprises an open substantially rectangular frame, indicated generally at I ll, having sides II and ends l2 of sheet metal or other suitable material which converge inwardly from the top to the bottom edges of the frame. The bottom edge of each side and end piece is bent or otherwise formed with an inwardly directed substantially horizontally disposed flange as shown at l3 and M respectively. Each flange l3 and I4 is in turn bent downwardly at substantially right angles to form a substantially vertical web, the opposite ends of which are cut out to form an intermediate web portion of limited length as shown at IS in Fig. 3 and at It in Fig. 2.

Each side flange i3 is also provided with a lip [3 which is adapted to extend inwardly toward the center of the frame'and comprises a longitudinal strip of metal substantially half the length of the side flange l3 welded or otherwise secured thereto in substantially the horizontal plane thereof and intermediate its ends. These lips l3 are adapted to lock the shaker frame to the supporting block as hereinafter described.

A right angle triangular member I! is shown fitted in each corner of the frame I!) on top of the intersecting flanges l3 and I4, each triangle being fastened to the flanges l3 and I l and to the adjacent sides H and I2 of the frame by welded or soldered joints.

A substantially rectangular gauge plate l8 is shown supported within the bottom of the open frame Ill and to this end a pair of longitudinally extending spaced substantially parallel supportingbars I9 and atransverse supporting bar 20 are fastened on the top surface of the plate I8, the bar 20 being welded or soldered to the bars I9 intermediate the'ends thereof. The ends of the bars l9 and 20 extend beyond the edges of the gauge plate [8 and are suitably bevelled to fit nicely against the sloping walls of the sides H and i2 respectively of the frame 10. The bevelled ends of the bars may be brazed or otherwise fastened to the respective sloping walls to fixedly support the gauge plate H3 in the bottom of the frame.

In accordance with an object of the invention, the lengths of the bars !9 and 20 are carefully determined so that the bottom surface I8 of the gauge plate [8 will be properly located in the frame. In its fixed position in the frame, the gauge plate l8 substantially fills the aperture, of the open frame, but its length and width are such as to provide a relatively narrow slot 22 of uni: form width circumscribing the gauge plate l between the edges thereof and the converging sides of the frame so as to feed the bullets in a substantially single layer onto the surfac of the bullet supporting block as hereinafter described.

The bullet supporting block is indicated at 23 and .comprises a substantially rectangular block of wood or other suitable material having a relatively large number of equally spaced apertures or pockets 24. Each aperture 24 may be provided with a small hole 25 in the bottom thereof ,to facilitate removal of a. stuck bullet from its pocket. The longitudinal and transverse dimensions of the supporting block correspond respectively to the dimensionsof the rectangular aperture of the frame ID, as defined by the longitudinal distance between the substantially vertical webs [6 at opposite ends of the frame and the transverse distance between the webs l at opposite sides thereof. Thus, the frame is adapted to fit down over the bullet supporting block 23, the webs l5 and it closely embracing correspond-. ing sides of the block 23 so as to prevent movement of the frame relative to the block. As an.

additional means for locking the frame to the block 23, the latter is provided. with keyways or slots which are formed in the top outer edge of each longitudinal side of the block 23. Each keyway is substantially equal in length and width. 1

to the corresponding lip [3 of the respective flanges E3 of the frame to enable each lip 13' to make a snug fit in its respective, keyway when the frame is assembled on the supporting block.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the frame is adapted to be pushed down over the supporting block 23 until the triangular .corner pieces i1 engage on the upper surface of the block 23 at its. four corners. In this position, hereinafter termed the assembled position, the lips I3 of the frame. are. substantially flush with the top of the block 23, as shown in Fig. 3,.while the bottom surface 18 of the gauge plate is is substantially parallel to and a predetermined distance from the top surface of the bullet supporting block. 23 forming therewith a bullet passage. For effectively orientingarticles, such as bullets having one rounded end the length of which is greater than the maximum diameter of the bullet, the height of the bullet passage is greater than .the maximum. diameter of the bullet, less than theoverall length of the bullet and substantially one-fifth times greater than the length of the profile or ogive of the bullet. For the purposes of this specification, the term length of the rounded end or ogive of the bullet shall be understoodto mean, the distance from the tip ofv the bullet nose to that point on the body of the bullet at which the taper ends. This distance is indicated by the letter Z in Fig. l of the drawing.

Referring to Fig. 4, 24 represents one of the apertures in the supporting block 23, the edges of the aperture being slightly rounded to facilitate entry of a bullet nose end down into the aperture. A bullet B entering the aperture nose 5 end down is enabled to drop freely down into the aperture due to the profile or ogival form of its nose n, the length of which is greater than the diameter of the bullet, and, as shown in the drawing, permits the heel h of the bullet to just clear the undersurface E8 of the gauge plate l8.

On. the other hand, when a bullet lodges heel end down in the entrance of an aperture, see the dotted lines of Fig. 4, the relatively square form of the heel prevents the bullet from rotating and moving down into the aperture sufficiently for the nose of the bullet to clear the gauge plate IS.

The bullet is thus prevented from falling down into the aperture heel end first.

In operation, the shaking motion necessary to distribute the bullets over the apertured surface of the block 23 and to dislodge those bullets which have entered heel end down into the apertures 24 may be provided by a suitable agitator of conventional construction. Referring to Fig. 2, one

' type of agitating means comprises a substantially rectangular platform 2'! mounted by means of bushed brackets 28 to slide on a pair of substantially parallel horizontally arranged guide rods 29. A link 30 is secured on the bottom of the platform and is of a reciprocating connecting rod 32, whereby the platform is given a relatively short reciprocating motion. The upper surface of the platform may be inclined, as shown, and is provided with suitable steps 33 for fixedly supporting the assembled bullet supporting block 23 and shaker frame it thereon.

In the present embodiment, the assembled frame and block are supported on the agitator platform with the longitudinal axis of the tray parallel to the direction of reciprocation of the platform, but it will be understood that the longitudinal axis of the frame may be at right angles to the direction of motion of the platform, and that the elevation of the platform may be varied or decreased to substantially zero without serious detriment to the orienting function of the shaker frame. Bullets are loaded into the upper part of the frame I0 preferably adjacent the high side thereof, see Fig. 2, and pass down through the feed slot 22 in a substantially single layer onto the 7 upper side of the aperture'd surface of the supporting block 23. From thence, the bullets roll down through the space or passage defined by the upper surface of the block 23 and the lower surface l8 of the gauge plate. Bullets sliding between these two surfaces are compelled to roll on their sides across the apertures as described above and are permitted to upend and fall intothe apertures only when the nose end of the bullet enters the aperture. A bullet which has tern-- porarily lodged heel end down in an aperture will be quickly dislodged by the agitation of the shaker frame and subsequently oriented to enter nose end down into an aperture of the bullet supporting block.

What is claimed is: 1. A device for orienting articles of substantlally'equal length and having one tapered end comprising a member provided with a planar sur face having article supporting apertures therein; hopper means supported immediately above said planar surface to feed articles to the apertures of said member; means to lock said hopper means to the apertured member; a gauge plate compivotally connected to one end prising a smooth unyielding surface; and members carried by said hopper means to fixedly support the surface of said gauge plate a predetermined distance above said apertured surface to enable articles thereon to tip up and to drop down into said apertures tapered end down only.

2. A device for orienting articles of substantially equal length and having one tapered end comprising a member provided with a planar surface having article supporting apertures therein; hopper means supported immediately above said planar surface to feed articles to the apertures of said member; means to lock said hopper means to the apertured member; a gauge plate comprising a smooth unyielding surface; members carried by said hopper means to fixedly support the surface of said gauge plate a predetermined distance above said apertured surface to enable articles thereon to tip up and to drop down into said apertures tapered end down only; and means to agitate said hopper means and said apertured member comprising a reciprocable carriage having an inclined surface and brackets on said surface to secure said apertured member thereon.

3. A device for orienting articles of substantially equal length and having one tapered end comprising a member provided with a planar sur face having article supporting apertures therein; and a hopper for feeding articles to the apertures of said member comprising an open frame fixedly supported immediately above said planar surface and having a bottom plate, said bottom plate comprising a smooth unyielding surface, one edge of which is spaced from said frame to form a slot to feed articles in a substantially single layer onto said surface, said smooth unyielding surface being supported in spaced parallel relationship from said apertured surface to form a passage of predetermined height such that articles in said passage are enabled to tip up and to drop down into said apertures tapered end down only.

4. A device for orienting bullets of substantially equal length and having a heel end and an ogive comprising a block provided with a planar surface having a plurality of bullet supporting apertures therein; hopper means to feed bullets onto said planar surface comprising an open substantially rectangular frame; means to support said frame immediately above said apertured planar surface comprising side members depending from said frame adapted to embrace corresponding sides of said block and keys on said frame to lock said frame to said block; a substantially rectangular bottom in said frame comprising a smooth unyielding surface, one edge of which is spaced from an adjacent side of said frame to provide a feed slot for delivering bullets in a substantially single layer onto the apertured surface of said block, said smooth unm'elding surface being supported in spaced parallel relationship therefrom to form a bullet passage of predetermined height such that articles in said passage are enabled to tip up and to clear said smooth unyielding surface when entering said apertures ogival end down and to tip up and to be stopped by said unyielding surface from entering into said apertures heel end down; and means to agitate said apertured block and hopper to induce said articles to move through said passage.

5. A device for orienting articles of substantially equal length and having one tapered end comprising a member provided with a planar surface having article supporting apertures therein; hopper means to feed articles to the apertures of said member; and a gauge plate mounted above said apertured member, said gauge plate being fixed and comprising a smooth unyielding surface supported in spaced parallel relationship from said apertured planar surface to enable articles thereon to tip up and to drop down into said apertures tapered end down and to stop articles which enter said apertures tapered end up.

a 6. A device for orienting bullets of substantially equal length and having an ogive at one end comprising a member provided with a planar surface having article supporting apertures therein; a gauge plate fixedly supported above the apertured member and comprising a smooth unyie!ding surface in spaced parallel relationship therefrom to define therewith a passage of predetermined height; and hopper means to feed bullets into said passage, the height of said passage being greater than the diameter of a bullet, less than the overall length of a bullet and substantially one-fifth greater than the length of the ogive of a bullet.

WALTER D. HUDDLESON.

THEODORE J. HOMAN. 

